When Amanda Kennett started her career as an educator it was in a subject that she did not originally choose.
“My first teaching job was in Owasso at the 6th Grade Center in 2004. I accepted a Spanish teacher position, but originally planned to be teaching English Language Learners. After about seven years, I went to work for a different district in an ELL program, and then worked at a Spanish Immersion school teaching 4th grade Spanish and English Language Arts. Although I loved working there, after commuting for almost 10 years, I was ready to find a job closer to home. When my current position came open, I was so excited to apply,” said Kennett.
Kennett landed at the Owasso 8th Grade Center where she teaches Spanish.
“I truly love Spanish, and I love what friendships and connections I have made over the years. I have had the opportunity to travel to several Spanish-speaking countries. At the immersion school, I was a chaperone for fifth grade exchange students studying abroad in Costa Rica and Spain. My hope is that my students can take some of what they learn and apply it in their own lives. I love hearing how they use it out in “the real world.” They tell me about songs they hear that we play in class, signs they see, words they hear around town, in movies, or on vacation or mission trips to Spanish-speaking countries,” said
Kennett.
Like many of her peers, Kennett can point to several people who influenced her to become an educator. Their influence helped shape her into the person and teacher she is today.
“I have had several educator influences in my life. My mom and great grandmother were teachers. My aunt was a teacher and a principal in Colorado. They are important people in my life, however, as I was working on my bachelor’s at the University of Tulsa (studying Speech Pathology and Spanish) I had an experience which changed my trajectory,” Kennett said. “I started working in a nearby elementary school as a work study student. During that time, one of the teachers, my principal at the Spanish immersion school- Jania Wester, showed me what it was like to be a great teacher. I saw how she taught with love and high expectations. She made connections with the students and their families and made teaching look fun! It’s not an easy job, but she made it look easy. It was obvious she loved her career, and after spending a few years working with her in that program, I decided I wanted to pursue teaching instead of Speech Pathology.”
The Owasso school district has been a special place for Kennett to continue her career and touch the lives of her students.
“Owasso is a special place to teach for many reasons. Administration offers quality professional development, and I feel supported by my principals. I know I can go to them if I have a question or concern. I also appreciate the parental support in this district. Teaching is a challenging profession, and when we all have the same goal (student success), we must be a team working together to help students be their best. I feel Owasso does this well,” said Kennett.
An alum of Union High School, Kennett said it was in high school when she found her love for the Spanish language.
“I graduated from Union High School, which is where I started learning Spanish. I took Spanish all four years of high school. During each summer, I went on mission trips to Mexico. We stayed at an orphanage and helped paint, clean, take care of animals, and cook.
We also spent time playing with the children living at the orphanage. This experience fueled a desire to improve my Spanish,” Kennett said. “After graduating from Union, I attended the University of Tulsa, earning a B.S. in Speech Pathology and a B.A. in Spanish.
During two of my spring breaks, I went with a group to Guatemala for a service mission trip. We helped build houses out of cinder blocks for people who were living in homes made out of sticks. These homes gave them a safer place to live- they allowed proper ventilation for cooking, as well as strong walls to protect them from mudslides. I learned so much from all my travels! Not only did I learn new words, but I was able to immerse myself in another culture, learn construction skills, meet amazing people, and see many beautiful sights.”
Kennett would go on to earn a master’s degree from Oklahoma State University.
“After graduating from TU, I earned my master’s degree in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages at Oklahoma State University. During my studies at OSU, I had the opportunity to travel to China and teach English at a University in Tianjin for a couple of weeks. It was an amazing experience,” said Kennett.
When time allows, Kennett said she enjoys spending time with her family.
“In my free time, I like to go hiking, camping, watch movies and spend time with my family. Having four children, three of whom are involved in extracurricular activities, consumes quite a bit of my free time. I know this is just a season of my life, and when they grow up, I will probably have more free time than I know what to do with. So, for the moment, I do my best to enjoy the beautiful chaos that surrounds me,” said Kennett.
